Russellville High School (RHS) officially announced the creation of the state's first high school Biomedical Sciences program Tuesday morning at the RHS Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Center.

Bruce Lazarus of the state Department of Career Education was on hand to officially announce the receipt of a $60,000 start-up grant for the program.

"The Department of Career Ed is here to help," Lazarus said in his address to the crowd of about 30, which included faculty members from Arkansas Tech University, Russellville School Board members and others. "My door is always open. If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to call. So, congratulations. You've done a great job with your application."

Principal Wesley White recalled a time before the STEM Center, when the school's lab facilities were not as stellar.

"A few years ago, we had a pretty good science program, but we were lacking certain things. In particular, was the opportunity for our students to have a good lab experience," White said. "Arkansas Tech University folks would tell us, 'Your kids' knowledge of content is as good as any, but when it gets to digging in there with your hands and doing lab work, they need some work.' When Mr. Williams came on board as our superintendent of schools, he came over one day and we talked about the Center for the Arts, which is almost complete out there now. But he said, 'What else do you need? We've asked our patrons to meet our needs. We're only going to get it one time because people don't like to vote millage in.' We both agree that you're sitting in our next greatest feat, our science department being updated and modernized."

Superintendent Randall Williams thanked White for his work on the application.

"These applications aren't easily done and he spent a lot of time doing that," Williams said.

Jared Fuller, who is currently teaching anatomy and physiology and biology, will teach the biomedical courses, beginning this fall with Principles of Biomedical Sciences.

"Basically that's an intro to medical terminology," Fuller said. "We'll get into a lot of the disorders. We set up scenarios where we say 'A person died of this disorder. What could you have done to treat them? Or keep them alive longer?' Not necessarily fix the situation, but make them aware of what's going on in the body. 'What do you know about the body and how to treat it?' I'm excited about that."

Fuller said the courses will utilize the facilities provided in the STEM Center and will give students a head start on a relationship with Arkansas Tech faculty.

"The curriculum is set up where the kids do a lot of projects," Fuller said. "There's a lot of hands-on stuff. They dive right in. It's not 'Here's all the information.' There is information, of course, but it's a very small part of the class. It's about networking. They're going to use new technology and researching technology that's being used in the field. ... The staff from Arkansas Tech is going to be a huge help. Our students will already have a foot in the door. They'll already know those people, and that will help them make a smooth transition into college."

Fuller said his class load will be modeled after Alex Floyd's. Floyd teaches Introduction to Engineering but maintained the courses he had been teaching before as well.

"I didn't want to give (any classes) up," Fuller said. "I love those kids. And biology is our root class for getting ready for this program. It's something they'll have to have so they will understand. You have to understand cells before you can understand tissues and body."

Fuller said excitement and interest in the program is building.

"We have a medical profession class at Vo-Tech, and a lot of people took that because they get more real-life experience," Fuller said. "They get to shadow under nurses and, because this program will give class work with that experience, I think we will have a lot of excitement for it. I know the counselors have had 50 or so kids asking, 'So what is this program all about? Should I do it?' That's a start. We'll get there."